Home · Gobiidae · Goby
Goby (Exyrias puntang) — Gobiidae

Goby

Exyrias puntang
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Goby (Exyrias puntang) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.2 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–5 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific; muddy bottoms of coastal inlets and estuaries.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Goby?

Description

The puntang goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an elongate, mottled body with tall dorsal fins and, like other gobies, fused pelvic fins forming a sucking disc. It inhabits muddy bottoms of shallow, turbid coastal inlets and estuaries, and also shallow coastal waters, solitary or in groups. On the bottom it forages on small invertebrates and detritus. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Goby?

The Goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Tall dorsal fins and sucker-like pelvic fins; inhabits turbid muddy coastal inlets.

Where does the Goby live?

The Goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific; muddy bottoms of coastal inlets and estuaries.

How big does the Goby get?

The Goby grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Goby edible?

The Goby is not usually eaten.

More photos

Goby (Exyrias puntang) — Gobiidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Goby (Exyrias puntang) — Gobiidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Goby (Exyrias puntang) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Albert Kang, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Goby (Exyrias puntang) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) nittan_lover, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Goby verified
Scientific name
Exyrias puntang
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Puntang goby; Silver spotted goby; Silver-spotted goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.2 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thick / fleshy
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0 verified
Max depth (m)
5 verified
Natural range
Indo-Pacific; muddy bottoms of coastal inlets and estuaries.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and detritus sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Tall dorsal fins and sucker-like pelvic fins; inhabits turbid muddy coastal inlets. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Exyrias

More from the family Gobiidae

Want the complete picture on the Goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Goby?